Effective Promotion of Reading for Pleasure
NATIONAL READING CALENDAR
JANUARY
Costa Book Award (previously the Whitbread Award)
This award includes a category for the best children's book of the year. The shortlist is published in November with the different award winners announced at the beginning of January and the overall book of the year is presented at a ceremony at the end of January. For more information visit
FEBRUARY
National Storytelling Week
National Storytelling Week, coordinated by the Society for Storytelling, takes place annually during the first week in February.
For more information visit
MARCH
World Book Day
World Book Day traditionally took place on 23 April (Shakespeare's birthday and St George's Day). From 2001 this was changed to the first Thursday in March to avoid clashes with Easter holidays and allow schools to take part. World Book Day 2009 will be held on Thursday 5th March.
Further details may be found at or by calling the World Book Day helpline on 01634 729810. Fax: 01634 290175. Email:
The Blue Peter Book Prize
Winners are short listed by a panel of adult judges; then a group of young Blue Peter viewers judges the three categories: Book I Couldn’t Put Down; Best Book with Facts; Most Fun Story with Pictures. The winners of each category then compete for the accolade of Blue Peter Book of the Year. The winner is announced in the spring to coincide with World Book Day (see above). For more information go to
Spring Equinox
World Storytelling Day
Formerly known as International Storytelling Day, the celebration aims to get people worldwide to tell and listen to stories, in a wide variety of languages, and at as many places as possible, during a single 24-hour period. It is hoped that by sharing stories and inspiration, they will learn from each other and create international contacts.
More information available at
APRIL
2nd April
International Children's Book Day
Held annually to commemorate the birth of Hans Christian Anderson in 1805. Coordinated by IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) as part of their activities to promote children's reading and international awareness and understanding of other cultures through children's books. Further details available on
MAY
National Share a Story Month
Organised by the Federation of Children's Book Groups.
Look out for details on their website at
JUNE
Shout Out 4Children Week (formally known as Kids' Clubs Week)
This is run by the charity 4children (previously called Kid's Clubs Network) and is part of National Sure Start Month, it gives parents the opportunity to find out more about facilities, and services that are available for them and their children. For more information go to or or contact 4children Head Office, City Reach, 5 Greenwich View Place, LondonE14 9NN. Tel: 020 75122112
The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards
Shortlists for the two awards are announced in April and the winners are announced in June. During this period, many children's reading groups in schools and libraries take part in a 'shadowing' scheme, reviewing the nominated books and talking about which they think should win.
For more information visit or email
Red House Children's Book Award
This has three categories: Books for Younger Children; Books for Younger Readers and Books for Older Readers. The judging is done entirely by children. The top 50 books chosen by the children are published in February as the 'Pick of the Year'. The top 10 from this list go forward as the shortlist and this is announced in March. The winners are presented at the award ceremony in June. Website:
JULY/AUGUST
Branford Boase Award
The Branford Boase Award is awarded annually to a first-time writer of a book for young people. Running alongside it is the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition that encourages writing talent in under 18s. The shortlist for the award is announced in April and the winner is presented at the awards ceremony in July.
For more details go to
Throughout the school summer holidays
National Summer Reading Challenge in Libraries
The National Summer Reading Challenge (launched in 1999) is coordinated by The Reading Agency and supported by Resource, Books for Students and leading children's publishers. It is aimed at encouraging 4 -12 year olds into libraries to maintain their reading over the school summer holidays. For information, contact your local library (over 85% of authorities participate) or go to
SEPTEMBER
8th September
International Literacy Day
Since 1967, International Literacy Day has been celebrated around the world as the focus of learning festivals, to recognise that the basic learning needs of all people of all ages should be met in each other country, both developing and developed.
Go to for current information on events and awards for successful initiatives or email for more details.
29th September
Early Years Book Awards
This award, created by Booktrust, gives prizes for fresh methods of communicating with pre-school children. A panel of six judges, including a children's book consultant, health visitor, a Bookstart officer and a children's illustrator, chooses the shortlist and winners. For more information visit
The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
This year the long list is announced by on May 23rd, the short list is then released on 6th September with the winner announced on 24th September.
For more information
OCTOBER
First Thursday of the month
International Poetry Challenge Day
Poetry Challenge urges people of all ages to learn a poem by heart and get sponsored to recite it on this day to at least one other person, and preferably to an audience, giving the proceeds to a charity of their choice.
Contact: Poetry Challenge, 12a Blackstock Mews, Blackstock Road, London, N4 2BT. Tel: 0207 3598391. Email: Website:
First full week of the month
National Children's Book Week
Annual celebration of children's book and reading. Since 2000, National Children's Book Week has incorporated National Bookstart Day, an annual celebration of the 'books for babies' initiative, on the Friday.
Contact Booktrust on 020 85162977 or email
Website:
Monday of the first full week of the month
Coventry Inspiration Book Awards
Our local Book awards with 6 categories for children: Never too Young (0-4); What's the Story (4-7); Raring 2 Read (7-11); Read it or Else! (11-14); Simply the Book (14+) and Our Special Favourites (favourite picture books for all ages). This is launched at the start of National Children's Book Week. All the voting is online on the dedicated website so the winners are chosen by the children. From January until February the books with the least votes are taken out each week until the winner in each category is announced during the Big Book Bash at Central Library in February half term.
For more information go to
20th-24th October
National Schools Film Week
During this week, Film Education provides lots of advice and support materials for schools to use in promoting the use of film in an educational context.
Tel: 020 79762291 Website:
Thursday of the first full week of the month
National Poetry Day
Organised by the Poetry Society, National Poetry Day takes place on the Thursday during National Children's Book Week (see above).
Tel: 020 74209880. Email:
Website:
Family Learning Weekend
Annual celebration of family learning which has activities taking place in diverse locations such as zoos, shopping centres, libraries and community centres.
For more information contact the Campaign for Learning on 020 79301111
Fax: 020 79301551 Website:
Monday of the last full week of the month
InternationalSchool Library Day
Initiative started by the International Association of School Librarianship in 1999. This has now been extended to International School Library month with events happening all over the world to celebrate the role of the School Library.
For more information see
End of October
National tell-a-story day
National Tell-a-Story Day is a national celebration of storytelling, and the perfect opportunity to hold your own storytelling event or tell your own stories, whether they’re wee tales or enormous epics. All sorts of people will be telling stories in schools, libraries, community centres, churches, homes, gardens...as well as some more unusual venues! So whether your venue is a spooky cave or a cosy corner in the snug, this is your chance to take part in some DIY storytelling. For more information visit or call The Scottish Storytelling Centre on 0131 5569579
NOVEMBER
The Roald Dahl Funny Prize
The Booktrust, in association with Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen have an exciting new book prize with two categories: The Funniest Book for Children Aged Six and Under and The Funniest Book for Children Aged Seven to Fourteen. Fiction, non-fiction and poetry will be welcomed. Michael Rosen chairs the panel of five judges; the other judges are Sophie Dahl, Dara O'Briain, Chris Riddell and Kaye Umansky.
A shortlist of six books in each category was announced on 8 September to tie in with the third Roald Dahl Day on 13 September. The awards ceremony announcing the winners will be on 13th November. For more information go to
The Booktrust Teenage Prize
Launched in 2003 to recognise and celebrate contemporary fiction written for teenagers. The shortlist is published at the beginning of September and the winner is announced at a ceremony in the middle of November
Go to for more information.
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